This is going to be the first article of a series on how to stop exposing our bodies to chemicals one step at a time. Everywhere I go I want to tell everyone about the dangers of the foods, water and cosmetics they are exposing themselves to. I don't have the problem as much when I go grocery shopping, because I do that at health food stores, but when I go to Costco I have to have a great deal of self control. I go there to get a few organic things like frozen berries, apples and spinach. I also get avocados, and pinneapple there even though they aren't organic. As I walk through the store I see other moms loading their carts with Gogurts, Crustables, bottled water, pasteurized milk, sodas, processed cereals, and the list goes on and on. I have changed alot over the past five or so years. I used to buy canned foods and some processed things, so I do understand the ignorance that can come with buying these things. I wish there were a way to get the message out to other mom's so they don't have to spend hours researching like I have. So here is my plan. I am going to pick some of the things that I think will make a huge difference in people's lives and try to make it simple for them to elimintate these health hinderers from their lives. I may pick an easier one some weeks, and harder ones other weeks, and I won't always pick the most important to come first because sometimes they are harder changes to make.
So this week I am going to concentrate on body odor. Body odor is really quite a scary topic for most. How in the world do I expect you to stop white knuckling your protection because you fear scaring off all of your friends and coworkers? Well first you need to detox and for some this is a very good time because you probably have a little vacation from work to try a few of these things. If not, don't fear. The Crystal will probably get you by. Just bring it with you to work because you may need to reapply it for awhile. Trust me after you read what all of the ingredients in mainstream deodorants can do to you, you will agree it is worth the hassle. Once you have detoxed you will have an amazing sense of freedom from that gross stuff you used to rely on daily.
If everyone stopped putting regular deodorant on I believe they would feel much better. My recommendation after being my own guinea pig is baking soda without aluminum (if it doesn't say, it has it) Bob's Red Mill can be purchased at Whole Foods for a couple bucks or Crystal which can be found at health stores. I have tried a few other brands and wasn't as thrilled with them. It was prior to my detox though, so I will give them that.
If everyone stopped putting regular deodorant on I believe they would feel much better. My recommendation after being my own guinea pig is baking soda without aluminum (if it doesn't say, it has it) Bob's Red Mill can be purchased at Whole Foods for a couple bucks or Crystal which can be found at health stores. I have tried a few other brands and wasn't as thrilled with them. It was prior to my detox though, so I will give them that.
My own detox period lasted for about two months. I believe it would have been much shorter had I not gone back to my Dove deodorant over and over when I had a special outing. That hinders the progress. Every now and then I eat some meat and processed foods at a family get together and like clockwork I have to use baking soda for a few days. Other than that I never use any form of deodorant and I never have any smell issues at all. It's true!! I'm a mom under stress and I live in the heat of Vegas and I never stink!!! Okay not never. Only when I eat certain foods though, like I said.
Deodorant Tips
Different anti-perspirants work in different ways. Some work by shrinking sweat glands. Others work by clogging or shrinking the pores in your underarms. Many studies have shown that the compounds in these anti-perspirants are not healthy, not allowing sweat glands to do their job releasing toxins. Over time the aluminum compounds have also been shown to collect in the brain, possibly leading to Alzheimers. (There are other chemicals to avoid, see the end of this article). While anti-perspirants have these disturbing side effects, deodorants work simply to fight bacteria and to scent the underarm. That's why many people believe using deodorants is a much healthier option.
When you switch from an anti-perspirant to a deodorant, your glands and pores will start to unclog, open up, and function properly. In this transition period, toxins and other fluid buildup are being released and one may notice his/her body odor increase. Not knowing the changes that are occurring in their body, this increased odor sends people running right back to their trusty anti-perspirant. Steps for getting off of regular deodorant:
1. Test
Give a new deodorant product at least a week before you decide if its right for you.
2. "Detox"
If you've been using an anti-perspirant, there's a bunch of buildup in the underarms. Dead skin cells, and chemical residue. Before your shower, dry-brush your underarm skin to loosen this buildup and to gently increase circulation. In the shower, lightly rub a loofah or exfoliating bath mitt on your underarms or simply use a washcloth if that's all you have. Stay away from anti-bacterial detergents for cleaning, only using true natural soaps for cleaning like Dr Bronners.
3. Sweat, sweat, sweat!!
Exercise. Use a sauna. Take hot showers and baths. These things will make you perspire and get your sweat glands functioning properly again. You may notice your underarm sweat being a little thick. This is because the sweat glands in your armpits are different from others on the rest of your body. Instead of just water and salt, these glands excrete amino acids. Your glands haven't been able to excrete all of these amino acids so there may be a buildup of mucous being released.
4. Hydrate well.
With all this sweating you need to replace your fluids.
5. Clothing
Natural fibers like cotton, bamboo and hemp will help wick perspiration away from your body. Synthetic fibers like acetate and polyester trap sweat in, giving bacteria a warm wet place to live. Synthetic fibers also hold sweat in the fabric, so bacteria actually starts growing on your shirt itself. Gross!
6. Cut the red meat.
Many claim that the consumption of red meat increases body odor. In 2006, a group of researchers in the Czech Republic put the theory to the test. The collected the perspiration of males, meat-eating and non-meat-eaters. They then had women judge the odor of the perspiration based on a number of factors.
"Results of repeated measures analysis of variance showed that the odor of donors when on the non-meat diet was judged as significantly more attractive, more pleasant, and less intense. This suggests that red meat consumption has a negative impact on perceived body odor hedonicity."
Eating red meat, according to this study, does make you smell more pungent. But what's the science behind it?
Our bodies have two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine glands are located all over the body. The sweat that eccrine glands produces is nothing much more than salt water. Apocrine glands, however, are different. Apocrine glands develop during puberty, and are located in the underarm and groin areas. The sweat that these glands produce contain fatty acids and proteins that are then eaten by bacteria. So even though we have bacteria all over our bodies, odor only comes from areas with apocrine glands.
When we eat red meat, our bodies contain more protein and fatty acids than someone on a vegetarian or vegan diet. Thus, more proteins and fatty acids are excreted through the apocrine glands of a meat eater than those of a vegetarian. The underarms of a meat-eater has more “food” for bacteria to eat and multiply with, so there's more body odor. I have found this to be true for myself over and over again.
Ingredients to avoid:
•Propylene Glycol is a penetration enhancer, actually breaking down your skins natural protective barrier and enters your bloodstream, bringing any other chemicals along with it.
•Aloe Vera or water. While water and aloe vera themselves are not harmful ingredients, their presence means that there's got to be some type of synthetic preservative to keep it from going bad.
•Fragrance may contain phlalates that are proven hormone distruptors, particularly affecting the way the female hormone estrogen works in your body (in men, women, and children). Tetrasodium EDTA is actually made from sodium cyanide (a toxic salt) and formaldehyde (a carcinogen).
•Synthetic colors like FD&C Yellow and D&C Green are made from coal tar, and can be skin irritants, hormone distruptors, and formaldehyde donors.
•Diazolidinyl Urea is a skin and immune system toxin, and has been shown to cause cancer in some studies. Commonly sourced as an extract from animal urine.
•Triethanolamine (TEA) is made from ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen.
•Parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso, etc) can cause skin irritation and allergies and has been shown in many studies to be a hormone disruptor.
•Quaternium-15 is a preservative that can contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Bronopol breaks down to create the carcinogens formaldehyde and nitrosamines according to the FDA.
•Octoxynol and Nonoxynol are hormone disruptors and should be avoided by children and pregnant women in particular.
•Triclosan has been shown to cause liver damage and hormone disruption. Ceteareth-20 (or 12) is used as a thickener and can be contaminated with carcinogens such as ethylene oxide and dioxane. It is also a neurotoxin, a skin irritant, and has been deemed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review an ingredient not safe for use on injured or damaged skin.
You can do a search through the Environmetal Working Group's website for any cosmetic product here:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php
For fun I did a search for my old deodorant Dove radiant silk. I thought you might like to see what I was exposing my body to, or even better put-what I am no longer poisoning my body with!!
Ingredients in this product are linked to:
Cancer
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
Allergies/immunotoxicity
Other concerns for ingredients used in this product:
Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes
Awe Dove is such a lovely company isn't it? Looking out for women everywhere. You know that they found parabens in samples of breast tumors? Not good no matter how you spin it. More here:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/paraben011304.cfm
So are you with me? Have I convinced you to start your new healthy lifestyle today?
Correction: I no longer trust the Crystal deodorant. I think the safest bet is eating clean and using nothing or using baking soda. That's what I do! :)
Deodorant Tips
Different anti-perspirants work in different ways. Some work by shrinking sweat glands. Others work by clogging or shrinking the pores in your underarms. Many studies have shown that the compounds in these anti-perspirants are not healthy, not allowing sweat glands to do their job releasing toxins. Over time the aluminum compounds have also been shown to collect in the brain, possibly leading to Alzheimers. (There are other chemicals to avoid, see the end of this article). While anti-perspirants have these disturbing side effects, deodorants work simply to fight bacteria and to scent the underarm. That's why many people believe using deodorants is a much healthier option.
When you switch from an anti-perspirant to a deodorant, your glands and pores will start to unclog, open up, and function properly. In this transition period, toxins and other fluid buildup are being released and one may notice his/her body odor increase. Not knowing the changes that are occurring in their body, this increased odor sends people running right back to their trusty anti-perspirant. Steps for getting off of regular deodorant:
1. Test
Give a new deodorant product at least a week before you decide if its right for you.
2. "Detox"
If you've been using an anti-perspirant, there's a bunch of buildup in the underarms. Dead skin cells, and chemical residue. Before your shower, dry-brush your underarm skin to loosen this buildup and to gently increase circulation. In the shower, lightly rub a loofah or exfoliating bath mitt on your underarms or simply use a washcloth if that's all you have. Stay away from anti-bacterial detergents for cleaning, only using true natural soaps for cleaning like Dr Bronners.
3. Sweat, sweat, sweat!!
Exercise. Use a sauna. Take hot showers and baths. These things will make you perspire and get your sweat glands functioning properly again. You may notice your underarm sweat being a little thick. This is because the sweat glands in your armpits are different from others on the rest of your body. Instead of just water and salt, these glands excrete amino acids. Your glands haven't been able to excrete all of these amino acids so there may be a buildup of mucous being released.
4. Hydrate well.
With all this sweating you need to replace your fluids.
5. Clothing
Natural fibers like cotton, bamboo and hemp will help wick perspiration away from your body. Synthetic fibers like acetate and polyester trap sweat in, giving bacteria a warm wet place to live. Synthetic fibers also hold sweat in the fabric, so bacteria actually starts growing on your shirt itself. Gross!
6. Cut the red meat.
Many claim that the consumption of red meat increases body odor. In 2006, a group of researchers in the Czech Republic put the theory to the test. The collected the perspiration of males, meat-eating and non-meat-eaters. They then had women judge the odor of the perspiration based on a number of factors.
"Results of repeated measures analysis of variance showed that the odor of donors when on the non-meat diet was judged as significantly more attractive, more pleasant, and less intense. This suggests that red meat consumption has a negative impact on perceived body odor hedonicity."
Eating red meat, according to this study, does make you smell more pungent. But what's the science behind it?
Our bodies have two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine glands are located all over the body. The sweat that eccrine glands produces is nothing much more than salt water. Apocrine glands, however, are different. Apocrine glands develop during puberty, and are located in the underarm and groin areas. The sweat that these glands produce contain fatty acids and proteins that are then eaten by bacteria. So even though we have bacteria all over our bodies, odor only comes from areas with apocrine glands.
When we eat red meat, our bodies contain more protein and fatty acids than someone on a vegetarian or vegan diet. Thus, more proteins and fatty acids are excreted through the apocrine glands of a meat eater than those of a vegetarian. The underarms of a meat-eater has more “food” for bacteria to eat and multiply with, so there's more body odor. I have found this to be true for myself over and over again.
Ingredients to avoid:
•Propylene Glycol is a penetration enhancer, actually breaking down your skins natural protective barrier and enters your bloodstream, bringing any other chemicals along with it.
•Aloe Vera or water. While water and aloe vera themselves are not harmful ingredients, their presence means that there's got to be some type of synthetic preservative to keep it from going bad.
•Fragrance may contain phlalates that are proven hormone distruptors, particularly affecting the way the female hormone estrogen works in your body (in men, women, and children). Tetrasodium EDTA is actually made from sodium cyanide (a toxic salt) and formaldehyde (a carcinogen).
•Synthetic colors like FD&C Yellow and D&C Green are made from coal tar, and can be skin irritants, hormone distruptors, and formaldehyde donors.
•Diazolidinyl Urea is a skin and immune system toxin, and has been shown to cause cancer in some studies. Commonly sourced as an extract from animal urine.
•Triethanolamine (TEA) is made from ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen.
•Parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso, etc) can cause skin irritation and allergies and has been shown in many studies to be a hormone disruptor.
•Quaternium-15 is a preservative that can contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Bronopol breaks down to create the carcinogens formaldehyde and nitrosamines according to the FDA.
•Octoxynol and Nonoxynol are hormone disruptors and should be avoided by children and pregnant women in particular.
•Triclosan has been shown to cause liver damage and hormone disruption. Ceteareth-20 (or 12) is used as a thickener and can be contaminated with carcinogens such as ethylene oxide and dioxane. It is also a neurotoxin, a skin irritant, and has been deemed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review an ingredient not safe for use on injured or damaged skin.
You can do a search through the Environmetal Working Group's website for any cosmetic product here:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php
For fun I did a search for my old deodorant Dove radiant silk. I thought you might like to see what I was exposing my body to, or even better put-what I am no longer poisoning my body with!!
Ingredients in this product are linked to:
Cancer
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
Allergies/immunotoxicity
Other concerns for ingredients used in this product:
Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes
Awe Dove is such a lovely company isn't it? Looking out for women everywhere. You know that they found parabens in samples of breast tumors? Not good no matter how you spin it. More here:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/paraben011304.cfm
So are you with me? Have I convinced you to start your new healthy lifestyle today?
Correction: I no longer trust the Crystal deodorant. I think the safest bet is eating clean and using nothing or using baking soda. That's what I do! :)
